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For the second consecutive year, Surface Transportation Board Chairman Roger Nober has sent letters to the Class Is requesting their fall peak action plans. But for the first time, the chairman also sent a letter to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association seeking information on how small roads will handle the peak freight-moving season.

In letters dated June 15, Nober asked the railroads and association to provide the board within 30 days their fall peak service and operational plans, including performance goals for at least the next 120 days and plans to achieve those goals; capital plans aimed at increasing capacity this year; critical capacity-related infrastructure needs and plans to address those needs; and ways to keep shippers informed.

“This year, as last, the demand for rail services continues to grow and is straining the ability of our railroads to meet that growing demand,” said Nober in a prepared statement. “The Congressional Budget Office praised our efforts in monitoring the fall peak last year and said that it ‘may have prompted the railroads to enhance their efforts to meet demand.’”